Floating parallelogram cutting machine



R. HELMKAMP I FLOATING PARALLELOGRAM CUTTING MACHINE Oct; 28, '1947.

Filed Jan. 15, 1945" FIG.3.

INVE NTOR 4 /0/41?) I? HELMKAMP 5: ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1947FLOATING PARALLELO'GRAMCUTTING MACHINE Richard F. Helmkamp, Jersey City,N. J asslgnor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, a corporation ofNew York Application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,862

12 Claims. (Cl. 266-23) This invention relates to gas torch machines andmore particularly to machines of the type adapted to travel on the worksurface and its Operable parts laterally adjusted by a guiding 2 ing ofthe invention, reference may be had to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which surface or template lying adjacent the side of Fig. 1 is a planview of the machine supported the machine. upon a workpiece surface andits linkage being Prior gas torch machines of the pantograph laterallygauged by a template lying adjacent type have been without means forgauging the thereto; torch from the work surface. The torch has beenFig. 2 is an end view of the machine as shown more or less fixed againstvertical movement on '10 in Fig. 1; the machine so that the spacingbetween the Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine torch tipand the surface, at times when the and layout shown in Fig. 1; machineis passing over an uneven surface, has Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view inside elevation not always been maintained. illustrating more clearly theprincipal feature of It is the object of the present invention to protheinvention. vide in a pantograph type of gas torch machine Referring nowto the figures, the carriage ll an arrangement whereby the gas torchwill folhaving supporting wheels I2 is supported on a low the contour ofthe work surface. workpiece surface 13 and is adapted to be guided It isanother object of the invention to provid in its passage thereover by aguiding angle iron insuch machines adequate adjusting facilities I4fixed to the work surface. This guiding iron for initially locating thetorch relative to a given ha a vertically-extending portion M which iswork surface and adjustable stop means for limengaged by roller elementsl5 and I6 extending iting the downward movement of the torch. from theside of the carriage II. The rollers l5 According to the presentinvention, a horiare rotatable about a fixed pivot Whereas thezontally-extencling folding parallelogram link- 28 rollers l6 aremounted on arms H to be adjusted age is connected to an adjustablemounting toward and away from the iron vertically-exmeans on the machinecarriage to pivot to and tending portion I4. There is a set of theserollers from the work surface. This linkage has at one at each end ofthe machine and the arms I! of end thereof a ga torch and a gaugingdevice for each set are adjusted toward and away fromthe supporting thetorch and torch end of the linkangle iron by a turnbuckle'device I9extending age upon the work surface. At the opposite end therebetween.The carriage II is driven over the of the linkage there is provided acounterweight work surface by a motor 2|. for removing some of theweight from the torch On the carriage H is a mounting means 22 inend ofthe linkage. The unbalanced weight is eluding a vertically-extendingslide 23 carrying supported on the gauge wheel. The linkage comatransversely-extending bearing support 24. An priseslongitudinally-extending arms and transadjusting screw '25 serves toadjust the slide 23 verse members extending therebetween, one ofvertically. An adjusting screw 26 on the bearthe latter supporting thetorches. The arms are ing support serves to adjust a transversesuprespectively connected intermediate their length porting shaft 21laterally with respect to the to a transverse shaft forming apart of thecarriage. This shaft is adjusted through rack mounting means, foruniversal movement with teeth 28 therein engaging with a gear 29 on therespect thereto, 1. e., for adjustment about a veradjusting screw 26,Fig. 3. The shaft 21 has a tical axis and for adjustment about ahorizontal longitudinally-extending key-Way 3| adapted to axis. On thelinkage is a device adapted to bear contain a key 32 on the bearingsupport whereby against a template to effect the lateral adjustrotationof the shaft in the bearing is prohibited ment of the torch and linkageduring the passage at all times throughout the lateral displacement ofthe machine over the work surface. An adof the shaft. Shaft 21 forms apart of the justable stop means is provided on the machine mountingmeans and to the ends of the same for limiting the downward movement ofthe there is connected a horizontally-extending foldtorch at times whenthe gauging device might ingparallelogram' linkage 33. encounter a holeor exaggerated depression in This linkage includes parallellongitudinallythe work surface. The machine is particularly extendingarms 34 and transversely-extending adapted for gas cutting operations asin the members 35 and 36 respectively pivotally con- I trimming of shipplate. nected between the ends of the arm members 34. For other objectsand for a better understand- Intermediate the length of the arm membersand 3 between their pivotal connections with the transverse members 35,35 at the respective corners of the linkage are transversely-extendingsleeves 38 adapted to fit over the ends of the transverse support shaft21 for pivotal adjustment thereabout. By means of these sleeves thelinkage can pivot torches 39, 40 and'a gauging device 4| can floatvertically. The transverse support 35 has rack teeth 42 adapted'to beengaged by the adjusting screws 43, 44, 45 of the respective torches 39,40 and of the gauging device 4| so that lateral adjustment of theseelements across the support can be effected.

One of the sleeves 38 is retained against axial -movement on the shaft21 by collars 38 and 38" located respectively at each side of thesleeve. These collars will hold the linkage againsttransversedisplacement n the shaft 21. There is no need to add collars to theshaft adjacent the sleeve 38 on the opposite end of the shaft 21 forthis purpose.

Extending upwardly from each sleeve is a shaft 46 to provide a verticalaxis on which respective arms 34 can pivot in order that the linkage canfold or be adjusted laterally for following a curved template 41.Transverse member 35 extends to one side of the arm 34 located at theleft of the and the transverse shaft 35 which carries gas machine tocarry an adjustable bracket 48 having a roller 49 adapted to abutthe-template 41 to be guided thereby. As the machine progresses over thework, the roller 49 will follow the template 41 and cause the torches39, 40 to follow the template, the linkage being pivoted about thevertical shafts 46 on the sleeves 38. At the same time the linkage canfloat up and down on the gauging device 4|, Fig. 4, to follow the wavywork surface as indicated at 5|.

On the transverse support member 36 at the opposite side of the pivotfrom the torch transverse support is a counterweight 52 adapted torelieve the gauging device 4| of some of the weight of the linkage. Onlythe unbalanced weight is supported on the gauging device.

Also supported on the shaft 21 is a bracket 53 for supporting certain ofthe gas piping utilized for the feeding of the gas to the torches 39,40. On this same bracket 53 is an adjustable stop arm 54 adapted to bepivotally adjusted about a pivot point 55, Fig. 3, by an adjusting screw55 extending through the bracket 53. The outer end 51 of the stop 54engages the transverse member 36 at times when the gauge wheel dropsinto a move in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of said shaft,the folding parallelogram linkage also having an instrument-supportingmember pivotally interconnecting the arms and extending transversely ofthe carriage, a work-performing instrument mounted on saidinstrument-supporting member with its end in spaced relation to the worksurface, and means also carried by said instrument-supporting member andadapted to contact with the work surface for supporting theinstrument-carrying end of the folding parallelogram linkage and movingit vertically about the axis of said shaft in response to irregularitiesin the work surface so that said end of the reproducing instrument willfollow such irregularities.

2. In a machine in which an instrument is guided over a work-piece inaccordance with the movement of a tracer or template follower, acarriage, means for guiding the carriage along a predetermined courserelative to the work-piece, a horizontal transverse shaft moounted onthe carriage, a folding parallelogram linkage having arms pivotallymounted on the shaft so that each arm can swing in'a horizontal planeand can also move in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of saidshaft, the folding parallelogram linkage also having an instrumentsupporting member pivotally interconnecting the arms and extendingtransversely of the carriage, a work-performing instrument mounted onsaid instrument-supporting member with its end in spaced relation to thework surface, means also carried by said instrument-supporting memberand adapted to contact with the work surface for supporting theinstrument-carrying end of the folding parallelogram linkage and movingit vertically about the axis of said shaft in response to irregularitiesin the work surface so that said end of the reproducing instrument willfollow such irregularities, and means for adjusting said shaftlongitudinally of itself and transversely of the carriage to shift theentire parallelogram linkage transversely.

' riage, means for guiding the carriage along a hole or exaggerateddepression in the work l3.

This stop prevents the torches and gauging device from being destroyedon such occasions.

To keep the linkage from collapsing laterally,

there is provided a tension spring 58 extending diagonall from onecorner of the linkage to the opposite corner.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes should be within the spirit andpredetermined course relative to the work-piece, a horizontal transverseshaft mounted on the carriage, a pair of sleeves rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, a vertical pivot pin carried by each sleeve, a foldingparallelogram linkage having arms pivotally mounted on said pivot pinsso that each arm can swing in a horizontal plane, each of said sleevespermitting movement of the corresponding arm in a vertical plane aboutthe horizontal axis of said shaft, the folding parallelogram linkagealso having an instrumentsupporting member pivotally interconnecting thearms and extending transversely of the carriage, a work-performinginstrument mounted'on said instrument-supporting member with its end inspaced relation to the work surface, and means also carried by saidinstrument-supporting member and adapted to contact with the worksurface for supporting the instrument-carrying end of the foldingparallelogram linkage and moving it vertically about the axis of saidshaft in response to irregularities in the work surface so that said endof the reproducing instrument will follow such irregularities.

4. In a machine in which an instrument is guided over a work-piece inaccordance with the movement of a template follower, a carriage, meansfor guiding the carriage along a predealso having aninstrument-supporting member pivotally interconnecting the arms andextending transversely of the carriage, a work-perform ing instrumentmounted on said instrument-supporting member with its end in spacedrelation to the work surface, and a template follower carried by thefolding parallelogram linkage and adapted to follow a template to effectlateral movement of the linkage and the work-performing instrumentduring movement of the carriage along its course. I

5. In a machine in which an instrument is guided over a work-piece inaccordance with the movement of a tracer or template follower, acarriage, means for guiding theparriage along a predetermined courserelative to the workpiece, a horizontal transverse shaft mounted on thecarriage, a folding parallelogram linkage having arms pivotally mountedon the shaft so that each arm can swing in a horizontal plane and canalso move in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis-of said shaft,the folding parallelogram linkage also having an instrumentsupportingmember pivotally interconnecting the arms and extending transversely ofthe carriage, a work-performing instrument mounted on saidinstrument-supporting member with its end in spaced relation to the worksurface, and a gauge device connected to the folding parallelogramlinkage for normally supporting its instrumentcarrying end and moving itvertically about the axis of said shaft in response to irregularities inthe work surface so that said end of the reproducing instrument willfollow such irregularities.

6. In a machine in which an instrument is guided over a work-piece inaccordance with the movement of a tracer or template follower, acarriage, means for guiding the carriage along a predetermined courserelative to the work-piece, a horizontal transverse shaft mounted on thecarriage, a folding parallelogram linkage having arms pivotally mountedon the shaft so that each arm can swing in a horizontal plane and canalso move in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of said shaft,the folding parallelogram linkage also having an instrument-supportingmember pivotally interconnecting the arms and extending transversely ofthe carriage, a work-performing instrument mounted on saidinstrument-supporting member with its end in spaced relation to the worksurface, a gauge device connected to the folding parallelogram linkagefor normally supporting its instrument-carrying end and moving itvertically about theaxis of said shaft in response to irregularities inthe work surface so that said end of the reproducing instrument willfollow such irregularities, and adjustable stop means forlimiting thevertical movement of the work-performing instrument and the gauge devicetoward the work.

7. In a machine in which an instrument is guided over a work-piece inaccordance with the movement of a tracer or template follower, acarriage, means for guiding the carriage along a predetermined courserelative to the workpiece, a horizontal transverse shaft mounted on thecarriage, a folding parallelogram linkage having arms pivotally mountedintermediate their ends so that each arm can swing in a horizontal planeand can also move in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis of suchshaft, the folding parallelogram linkage also including atransversely-extending instrument-supporting member pivotallyinterconnecting the corresponding ends of the two arms and atransversely-extending member pivotally connecting the other ends of thetwo arms, a counterweight carried by said last-mentioned member, awork-performing instrument mounted on said instrument-supporting memberwith its end in spaced relation to the work surface, and means alsocarried by said instrument-supporting member and adapted to contact withthe work surface for supporting the instrument-carrying end of thefolding parallelogram linkage and moving it vertically about the axis ofsaid shaft in response to irregularities in the work surface so thatsaid end of the reproducing instrument will follow such irregularities.

8. In a gas torch machine in which the torch is guided over a Workpiece, a carriage, a folding parallelogram linkage includingsubstantially parallel arms, means supporting the parallelogram linkagefrom the carriage, said supporting means including vertical pivots aboutwhich said arms are movable in a horizontal plane and horizontal pivotsabout which said arms are movable in a vertical plane, saidparallelogram linkage also including a member pivotally interconnectingthe arms at one side of said pivots, a gas torch supported from saidmember and means adapted to contact with the work surface for supportingthe gas torch and" the end of said linkage from which it is supportedand to move the torch and said end of the linkage vertically about saidhorizontal pivots in response to irregularities in the work surface sothat the torch will follow such irregularities.

9. In a gas torch machine in which the torch is guided over a workpiece, a carriage, a folding parallelogram linkage includingsubstantially parallel arms, means supporting the parallelogram linkagefrom the carriage, said supporting means including vertical pivots aboutwhich said arms are movable in a horizontal plane and horizontal pivotsabout whichv said arms are movable in a vertical plane, saidparallelogram linkage also including a member pivotally interconnectingthe arms at one side of said pivots, a gas torch supported from saidmember, means adapted to contact with the work surface for supportingthe gas torch and the end of said linkage from which it is supported andto move the torch and said end of the linkage vertically about saidhorizontal pivots in response to irregularities in the work surface sothat the torch will follow such irregularities, and adjustable stopmeans for limiting the vertical movement of the torch relative to thework.

10. In a gas torch machine in which the torch is guided over a workpiece, a carriage, a folding parallelogram linkage includingsubstantially parallel arms, means supporting the parallelogram linkagefrom the carriage, said supporting means including vertical pivots aboutwhich said arms are movable in a horizontal plane and horizontal pivotsabout which said arms are movable in a vertical plane, saidparallelogram linkage also including a member pivotally interconnect?ing the arms at one side of said pivots, a gas torch supported from saidmember, a counterweight at the other side of said pivots effective tocounterbalance a portion of the weight of the torch and the end of theparallelogram linkage to which it is attached, and means adapted tocontact with the work surface for supporting the gas torch and the endof said linkage from which it is supported and to move the torch andsaid end of the linkage vertically about said horizontal pivots inresponse to irregularities in the work surface so that the torch willfollow such irregularities.

11. In a gas torch machine in which the torch is guided over a workpiece, a carriage, a generally horizontally-extending shaft mounted onthe carriage, a folding parallelogram linkage includlng substantiallyparallel arms, means supporting the parallelogram linkage from saidshaft,

said supporting means including vertical pivots about which said armsare movable in a horizontal plane and horizontal pivots about which saidarms are movable in a vertical plane, said parallelogram linkage alsoincluding a member pivotally interconnecting the arms at one side ofsaid pivots, a gas torch supported from said member, and means adaptedto contact with the work surface for supporting the gas torch and theend of said linkage from which it is supported and to move the torch andsaid end of the linkage vertically about said horizontal pivots inresponse to irregularities in the work surface so that the torch willfollow such irregularities.

12. In a gas torch machine in which the torch and work piece moverelatively during a cutting operation, a base, a folding parallelogramlinkage including substantially parallel arms, means supporting theparallelogram linkage from the base, said supporting means includingvertical pivots 8 about which said arms are movable in a horizontalplane and horizontal pivots about which said arms are movable in avertical plane, said parallelogram linkage also including a memberpivotally interconnecting the arms at one side of said pivots, a gastorch supported from one end of said linkage, and means adapted tocontact with the work surface for supporting the as torch and the end01' said linkage from which itis supported and to move the torch andsaid end of the linkage vertically about said horizontal pivots inresponse to irregularities in the work surface so that the torch willfollow such irregularities.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,807,989 Krebs June 2, 19311,841,878 Claude Jan. 19, 1932 1,901,254 Messer Mar. 14, 1933 2,085,112McKiernan June 29, 1937 2,263,036 Anderson Nov. 21, 1944 2,223,452 Joneset al. Dec. 3,1940 1,172,933 Bucknam. Feb. 22, 1916 1,542,887 Irvin etal June 23, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 474,033 GreatBritain Oct. 21, 1937

